Program History
In 2015, Montana State University Northern received a $1.9 million grant from the Native American Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) program of the U.S. Department of Education. With this award, MSUN created the Little River Institute: a center designed to improve the retention and completion rates of American Indian students.
The Little River Institute provides professional tutoring, peer mentorship, and cultural engagement. Additionally, the Institute offers professional development opportunities to faculty and staff.
Why Are We Called "The Little River Institute?"
The Little River Institute (LRI) bears the Blackfeet name for the 700 miles of meandering waterway coursing through northern Montana’s Indian Country. Like the Little River, our university’s 37,000-square-mile service area reaches from the Blackfeet Reservation in the northwest, passes along the Rocky Boy’s and Fort Belknap Reservations in the center and continues to the Fort Peck Reservation in the east.
Project Staff
Ashley Birdtail: Assistant to the Director & Sweetgrass Society Advisor | Phone: 406-945-9226 | Email: ashley.birdtail@msun.edu
I am from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and have lived in Havre for 20 years. I’m enrolled Nakoda (Assiniboine) and also come from the Aaniiih (Gros Ventre), Assiniboine of Fort Peck, and Nez Perce tribes. I am of the Cold People Clan on my paternal side and the Wetan Clan on my maternal side.
I am married to Spike and we have 4 sons – Kaine, Cody, Kasey, and Prosper as well as 2 dogs – Kru and Kodiak. They keep us busy! We enjoy traveling to powwows throughout the year and watching our children dance.
After graduating from high school, I went on to Aaniiih Nakoda College where I earned my Associate of Science – Computer Information Systems.
I started my higher education career at MSU-Northern in Admissions, then the Registrar’s Office and Career Center before coming to the Little River Institute. I also started as an Advisor with the Sweetgrass Society during the 2023-24 academic year. I have gained a wealth of knowledge from my past work experience and look forward to helping in any way I can.
I look forward to meeting and working with new and returning students and their families. Feel free to stop in and visit anytime or you can contact me at (406) 945-9226 or ashley.birdtail@msun.edu. My office is located in the Little River Institute – top floor of the Student Union Building (SUB) on campus.
Go Skylights and Lights!